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"Luck is something which happens when preparation meets opportunity. One play may make the difference in winning or losing a game. I must be prepared to make my own luck.”
(Southern Methodist)...6'2'', 187...Raymond Emmett Berry. . .Formed exceptional pass-catch team with Johnny Unitas. . .Caught then-record 631 passes for 9,275 yards, 68 touchdowns. . .All-NFL in 1958, 1959, 1960. . .Elected to six Pro Bowl games. . .Set NFL title game mark with 12 catches for 178 yards in 1958 overtime game. . .Colts' 20th-round future choice in 1954 . . .Born February 27, 1933, in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The Raymond Berry story is one of determination, dedication and desire. Berry, who needed to wear special shoes because one leg was shorter than the other, didn’t become a starter on his high school football team until his senior year – even though his father was the coach.
As an end for Southern Methodist, he caught all of 33 passes in three seasons. Why the Baltimore Colts selected him, even as a “future choice” on the 20th round of the 1954 draft, is a mystery. A long shot to make the Colts, Berry was determined. He practiced and practiced, catching passes from anyone willing to throw to him. He concentrated on making the difficult catch and running perfect patterns.
Although he had just average speed, he developed, by his own count, 88 different moves to get open. He ran patterns within inches of how they were diagramed. In 1956, Johnny Unitas became the Colts’ quarterback and Raymond was ready to put all his hours of practice to use. Together the two gave the Baltimore Colts one of the greatest pass-catch teams of all time. Three straight times Raymond led the league in receptions and caught a then-record 631 passes for 9,275 yards and 68 touchdowns in his 13-year career.
A first- or second-team All-Pro choice in 1957 through 1961 and again in 1965, he was selected to play in six Pro Bowl games during his career. A sure-handed receiver, Raymond fumbled only once in 13 years. Perhaps his greatest moment came in the famous overtime 1958 NFL Championship Game. He set a then-record with 12 catches for 178 yards and a touchdown. Several of his grabs came in the Colts’ life-or-death, last-minute drive to the tying field goal. In the overtime period, two receptions good for 33 yards were the major gains in Baltimore’s drive for the winning score.
Team
631
9275
14.7
68
Championship Games
1958 NFL – Baltimore Colts 23, New York Giants 17 (Overtime) Berry started at left end. Had 12 receptions for 178 yards, both NFL playoff records at the time, and one touchdown.
1959 NFL – Baltimore Colts 31, New York Giants 16 Berry started at left end. Had five receptions for 68 yards.
1964 NFL – Cleveland Browns 27, Baltimore Colts 0 Berry started at end. Had three receptions for 38 yards.
All-League Teams
All-NFL: 1958 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY) • 1959 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY) • 1960 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY)
All-NFL Second Team: 1957 (AP) • 1961(UPI, NEA) • 1965 (AP, NEA, NY)
All-Western Conference: 1957 (SN) • 1958 (SN) • 1959 (SN) • 1960 (SN)
Pro Bowls
(6) – 1959, 1960, 1961*, 1962, 1964, 1965
* Did not play
In the NFL Record Book
(at time of his retirement following 1967 season)
• [1st] Most Receptions, Career – 631 • [1st] Most Receiving Yardage, Career – 9,275 • [Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading League in Pass Receptions – 3 (1958-1960) • [Tied for 2nd] Most Seasons Leading League in Pass Receptions – 3 (1958-1960) • [3rd] Most Receiving Touchdowns, Career – 68 • [Tied for 3rd] Most Receiving Touchdowns, Season – 14 (1959) • [Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Games With Receiving Touchdowns,– 7 (1959-1960)
Championship Game Records
• [1st] Most Receptions, Game – 12 (1958) • [1st] Most Receiving Yards, Game – 178 (1958) • [Tied for 2nd] Most Receptions, Career – 20
Team Records
Colts records held by Berry (Records through the 1967 season, Berry's final season with Baltimore)
• [1st] Most Receptions, Career – 631 • [1st] Most Receptions, Season – 75 (1961) • [1st] Most Receptions, Game – 12 (vs. Washington, Nov. 10, 1957) • [1st] Most Receiving Touchdowns, Career – 68 • [1st] Most Receiving Touchdowns, Season – 14 (1959) • [1st] Most Receiving Yardage, Career – 9,275 • [1st] Most Receiving Yardage, Season – 1,298 (1960) • [1st] Most Receiving Yardage, Game – 224 (vs. Washington, Nov. 10, 1957) • [Tied for 1st] Most Receiving Touchdowns, Game – 3 (vs. Dallas, Oct. 30, 1957; vs. Green Bay, Nov. 6, 1960)
League/Team Statistical Titles
NFL Statistical Championships Reception Titles: 1958, 1959, 1960 Receiving Yardage Titles: 1957, 1959, 1960 Touchdown Titles: 1959
Team Statistical Championships Reception Titles: 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1966 Receiving Yardage Titles: 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, Touchdown Titles: 1959 Scoring Titles: 1959
Awards and Honors
• 1950s All-Decade Team • AFL-NFL 1960-1984 All-Star Team • 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
Full Name: Raymond Emmett Berry
Birthdate: February 27, 1933
Birthplace: Corpus Christi, Texas
High School: Paris (TX)
Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: January 13, 1973
Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: July 28, 1973
Presenter: Weeb Ewbank, Head Coach/GM, Jets and Berry's Coach with Colts
Other Members of Class of 1973: Jim Parker, Joe Schmidt
Pro Career: 13 seasons, 154 games
Drafted: 20th round (232nd overall) by Baltimore Colts
Uniform Number: 82